Part 12 (1/2)

”How does she seem to be, Bandy-legs?” asked Steve.

”Course I can't just say for certain yet,” came the reply; ”but looks like our boat might be watertight, and that the waves have been splas.h.i.+ng aboard all the time she's been adrift. Wait till I get the rest of the stuff out, and then I'll know for sure.”

”How about oars?” asked Max.

”Ain't nary a sign of the same around, and I'm afraid they must a been washed overboard when--but hold on there, what's this I'm knocking against every time I dip deep? Say, here's luck in great big gobs, fellers; it's an oar stuck under the thwarts, as sure as you live!

What, two of the same, seems like! Well, well, what do you know about that? Couldn't have asked for anything better, could we? Oh! don't I wish I had all this water out, though.”

He had hardly spoken when some one else dropped into the boat, and started to hurling the water in great quant.i.ties over the side. It was Shack Beggs, and he had a tin basin in his hands. Max remembered having seen it floating around in the interior of the house, along with many other things; but at the time, as none of them wanted to take a wash, he had not bothered securing it. Shack must have remembered the basin, and realizing how well it might be utilized now as a bailing bucket, he had slipped through the scuttle and secured it.

The water began to go down rapidly under their united efforts; though a little kept coming in over the exposed side of the boat, as it rubbed against the wall of the farm-house.

Seeing this Max managed to help the other boys s.h.i.+ft the location of their valued prize, and presently it was dangling alongside the three floating doors, no longer of any moment in their eyes.

”When will we go aboard?” asked Steve, as a more violent s.h.i.+ver pa.s.sed over the doomed building than at any previous time.

”Right away,” replied the other, who had felt his own heart stop beating for a brief s.p.a.ce of time, as he actually feared that the catastrophe was about to overwhelm them.

”I'm willing, Max,” said Mazie, trying to speak bravely.

”Then come, let me help you down; and the boys in the boat will be there to do their part; after which we'll get the other girls aboard,”

and saying this Max proceeded to give Mazie his hand, so that she might creep down the slope of the roof securely.

It was no easy task to manage things so that the three girls were all taken on board without any accident; but then Shack Beggs again proved himself invaluable, for it was his strong arms that held the boat close to the house while the transfer was being made. Max was secretly delighted with the way Shack was turning out. He actually believed there would be another vacancy in the ranks of that gang of young toughs in Carson after this; and was determined that if any friendly word or act of his could induce Shack to turn over a new leaf, they would certainly not be withheld. Presently all of them had embarked.

The water by how was well out of the boat, and so far as they could see not much more was coming in; and that could be readily handled, thanks to the possession of that dented basin which Shack had twisted into a handy scoop.

Max had fixed the rope so that by releasing one end it would allow the boat to drop down the stream with the swift current.

Steve had one oar and Bandy-legs the other, thrust out, and ready for use.

”Well, here's where we have to say good-bye to the French farm-house,”

and saying this Max let go the rope; ”now, pull away, boys, and head for the sh.o.r.e!”

It had already been decided which bank they must aim to reach; there was really very little choice between them so far as nearness went; but the boys thought it would be wiser to make for the west sh.o.r.e. Carson lay on that side, and then the ground as a whole lay somewhat higher, so that once they landed they would be less liable to come across impa.s.sable sloughs and lagoons formed by the back-water of the flooded river.

Both rowers bent their backs, and the boat began to make progress.

They had not been laboring in this fas.h.i.+on three minutes when Bessie gave utterance to a bubbling cry of anguish.

”Oh! see there what is happening to Uncle Asa's place!” she exclaimed.

The little lame girl set up a loud cry, and sobbed as though her heart would break, because that farm-house had been her home all her life; and it was now toppling over into the river.

They could see it moving, at first slowly, then with a sudden rush. It careened far on one side, and then surged to the other dreadfully. Had they still been clinging to the ridge the chances were that they would have been thrown into the water; and besides, there was always great danger that the house would fall to pieces before long.

”Well, we've got a whole lot to be thankful for, anyway!” Steve presently remarked, as he patted Bessie's, hand with one of his, using the oar with the other meanwhile.